Spring grip table



R. S. SANFORD SPRING GRIP TABLE April 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1948 April 14, 1953 R. s. SANFORD SPRING GRIP TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1.948

April 14, 1953 R. s. SANFORD SPRING GRIP TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 26, 1948 INVENTOR.

4 M 4 WW Patented Apr. 14, 1953 2,635,02 SPRING GRIP TABLE Roy S Sanford, Woodbury, Conn., assignor to The Autoyre Company, Incorporated, Oakville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut 7 Application June 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,328 2 Claims. o1. 311-110) This invention relates to a table construction and to a subassembly structure which is useful for fabricating tables. This invention has particular reference to a table structure and a table subassembly which is of all metal construction and which is adapted firmly to support a fiat top member which may be formed of glass or other suitable material. An object of this invention is the provision of a table structure which may be readily and inexpensively constructed on a mass production basis.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a rigid table structure in which the top member may be readily removed for cleaning or other purposes.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a table structure wherein the top member is removably supported by resilient means.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a metal table subassembly which may conveniently be plated in the usual type plating bath and thereafter assembled by welding in such a manner that the welding marks are concealed.

Further and additional objects will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 7

In carrying out this invention in one form there is provided a table which comprises a base portion; a top member spaced from the base portion and top support members extending from .the base portion to spaced points adjacent the peripheral area of the top member. The top support members are provided with downwardly extending reverse bend portions, each of which forms a leg'for the table, and the top support members are further provided with top member securing means adjacent the upper ends thereof. In a preferred form of the invention, the several top support members extend generally upwardly in diverging relationship and the upper ends thereof are resilientlyhtensioned toward each other in order to hold the top member securing means in top member engaging relationship. The upper ends of the top support members are preferably bent into a substantially horizontal plane, thus providing side edges upon which the top member may rest, and the top securing means or top grip members may take the form of plates welded or'otherwise secured to the end surfaces of the top support members which plates extend across the underside of the corner portions of the top member, said plates having upwardly and inwardly extending wings or strap members which serve to embrace the corners of the top member whereby to hold it in a desired position.

In accordance with a further embodiment of this invention, the table. of this invention may be formed from two or more subassemblies and connectors therefor. Each of these subassemblies comprises a resilient rod member formed in substantially the shape of a U, having coplanar side members and having a base member secured between the lower ends thereof by reverse bend portions. The two side members of each U- shaped subassembly form a pair of the top.support members for the table and the two reverse bend portions of each subassembly form a pair of the legs for the table. Preferably the reverse bend portions are so formed that the base member' lies in a plane spaced from the. common plane of the side members so that the base members of twoor more subassemblies may be secured together by suitable connectors or cross members in such a manner that a base portion is provided having an area somewhat smaller than the area of the top member. Thusv the reverse bend portions forming the legs of the final table extend in planes which intersect a central area of the top member and provide means for tensioning of the upper ends of the top support members toward the central area of the top member whereby a firm securement of the top member in a desired position is achieved when the table is assembled. v V

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a modified form of table; 7

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 7

Figs. 4 through 8 are detail views of the table shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modified form of, a table constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 10 is a broken side elevational view of th table shown in Fig. 9; and

Figs. 11 through 16 are detail views of various elements of the table shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

With particular reference now being made to Fig. 1, there is shown a table having a square top member 20 which may be formed of glass or other suitable material. The table top member 20 is supported by a-plurality of resilient top support members 22 which extend generally downwardly in converging relationship, terminating at their lower portions in reverse bends 24 which provide legs for the table structure. The reverse bend portions 24 extend upwardly and inwardly and are engaged with a base portion 26, this base portion being formed by base members 28 and cross members or connectors 30 which are welded-or otherwise securedtogether.

It will be noted that a pair of .top member supports 22, a pair of reverse bend portions 24 and one base member 28 are formed from :a single substantially U-shaped piece which is in the form of a resilient metallic rod having a square cross section. The sides :22 of each U-- shaped piece are coplanar and the basetmember 28 lies parallel to but outside of the .plane ef the sides 22. As shown in Fig. l, a, pair;of these substantially U-shaped rods are "secured together by a plurality of connectors 30, thusforming-an integral unit. The upper portions of the top support members -2 2. are provided with a plurality of topzgrid members .32 whichmay'be .securedto the support .members in ..any desired manner (for exam le .as described in the modifications shownin Figsfl through 16) and these top grip members embrace the .corners of the top member 20. As above indicated, the U-Shaped rod sub-.assemblyis resilient in nature and the upper ends thereof are tens'ionedtowarda centralarea ol" the top member .20 and, accordingly, the top is supported on 'top of the members '22 and resiliently held in place by the to grip members 32. In order to separate "the'top'from thetable, it .is only necessary to spring the tops of a pair of the supports '22 an outward direction to free .the corresponding grips'32 .irom top-engaging relationship and "thereaiter the top may be readilylifted .for cleaning or other purposes as desired.

table maybe readilye'fabricated and after the various elements of thebase por'tiongand the table top support membershaveibeenassembled as indicated, .the entire unit (except the glass top) may be placed in a plating bath in order to provide a suitable metallic coating thereon.

However, the assembled table may be somewhat difi'icult to ihandle'in the usual form of plating bath because of its size and accordingly it may be. desirable separately to plate the several elements prior-to the timeth'at'they are assembled infinal relationship. Such a procedure is contemplatedin the additional embodiments .of'this invention which are about 'toibe described.

Reference is now made to the form "of table disclosedinIFigs. 2'through'8. Generally speaking, this'modification'has the same over-all shape as the table disclosed in Fig. 1 and comprises a base portion '34, "top support members 3.6 and reverse bend portions .38 integral with andiextendingbetween ab-ase member '40 and thesupport members 3.6. The upper ends of each of the top support members 36 are provided with outwardly bent portions 42 upon which the top 4!! of the table is adapted to rest -adjacentthe corners 46 thereof. Top "grip members '48 are welded or otherwise secured to the end edges of each of the top support "members .36 and-such top grid members comprise, in'the modification shown, aplate'member 50 extending acrossand underneath the corner 46 of the top-member "44, and'upwardly and inwardly extending integral wings-'52 whichserve'toembrace thetop member 44 at the several'corners.

' The base portion 34 of thetable shownin Figs. 2 through 8'comprises'the loase members members 48 are welded or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the U-shaped rods which form the-base; legs and support members for the table.

Thereafter .therresulting subassembly is plated. The connectors 15,6 are likewise formed and plated. Thereafter the connectors and a pair of subassemblies are welded together in the position-indicated-in Figs. 2 and 3. The weld marks on the nonnectors 5B and thebase members 40 are then concealed by channel-shaped snap covers .58 having the construction indicated in Figs"? and S. "YIhereafter aslasstop M, in this instance square, definedby corners '46 enclosing an area somewhat larger'than that definediby the ends o'flthe top'support members 36, is placed in position by resiliently springing the upperiends of the topsupport'mem'bers in anoutward direction. Theresiliency is provided at .least in part by thereverse ibend portions v38 forming the legs of "the table. After the top member 14 is in place, the resilient 'tensioning of'the upper ends of the top support members toward "the central area of the top serves to "secureithe top member 'firmlyin position on the table. The elements constituting the base zpoltlon 3 lie in substantially a flat plane and provide a surfaceunderneath the top member on which books, magazines or other articles may be supported. It will be-apparent thatFigs. "2 and 3 showing views of this modification do not have the snap covers 58in place and their structure .and mode'of attachment are indicated in Figs. *7 and '8.

A further modification of this invention is that structure disclosed in Figs. 9 through 16 of the drawings. The structure disclosed in these figures is very similar to that disclosed above in Figs. 2 through 8 except that the top securing means and the base portion are modified somewhat. With respect to thetop securing means, each comprises a plate 6!} welded or otherwise secured to an end edge of the upper portion of atop support member- 62. :A U haped strap member'dd is secured to the opposite ends of each plate til and extends across the upper surface of the corner'of the table, thereby defining an aperture through which the corner maybe inserted. 'Preferablythebasefifi of the U-s'haped strap member 64 is curved inwardly to permit a relatively large portion of the "peripheral area of the top member to lie under the strap base. This form ,is particularly desirable if it is-desiredto employ a round table top instead of a top having corners as shown.

The base of the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 16 is similar to that modification previously described'except that here'th'e cross members or connectors-68 are four in number and are securedby welding or otherwise-to-the underside of the base-members l0. Suitable recesses 12 are provided in the "base members "Ill in order to provide an extended surface for welding or otherwisesecuring the'connector 68 thereto.

The table disclosed in Figs. 9 through 16 may be assembled in the same manner as that in the modification disclosed in Figs. 2 through .8.

After a pair of subassemblies and connectors have been plated and then secured together by welding in the position shown, the weld marks may be concealed by suitable plated snap covers 14 of the character disclosed in Figs. 9, 10, 13

and 14.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detype. However, it will be readily apparent that I the invention may be applied to rectangular tables or polygonal-shaped tables having three or more sides or corners. Also if desired, the table top may be circular or elliptical in shape and still come within the contemplation of this invention.

While several particular embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made. and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as all within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members each having a base member, upwardly and divergently extending coplanar resilient side members, and reverse bends in the lower portions of said side members forming legs for said table, said U-shaped members being disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of said table; top edge embracing means adjacent the upper ends of said side members; a top member having edges received in said embracing means, the upper ends of said side members being spread apart to receive said top edges within said embracing means whereby said embracing means are tensioned toward a central area of said top member; and cross members rigidly secured between said base members to form therewith a base portion for said table.

2. The table recited in claim 1 wherein said base member of each U-shaped member is spaced from the plane defined by said side members and inwardly toward the vertical axis of said table.

ROY S. SANFORD.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 142,211 Glukes Aug. 21, 1945 D. 147,114 Cutrow July 15, 1947 D. 151,579 Appell et a1. Nov. 2, 1948 701,888 Jeger June 10, 1902 884,549 Williams Apr. 14, 1908 889,600 Graumiller et a1. June 2, 1908 1,853,483 Winters Apr. 12, 1932 2,010,342 Woods Aug. 6, 1935 2,010,394 Herman Aug. 6, 1935 2,324,252. Woelfer July 13, 1943 2,509,793 Yost May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 586,014 Germany Oct. 14, 1933 409,442 Great Britain May 3, 1934 Switzerland June 1, 1937 

